omega 3 fatty acid effects on biochemical indices following cancer surgery--RBnotice

[Lani]

1: Clin Chim Acta. 2006 May 16; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links

Omega-3 fatty acid effects on biochemical indices following cancer surgery.

Stehr SN, Heller AR.

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany.

Epidemiological studies have indicated that a high intake of saturated fat and/or animal fat increases the risk of colon and breast cancer. Laboratory and clinical investigations have shown a reduced risk of colon carcinogenesis after alimentation with omega-3 fatty acids, as found in fish oil. Mechanisms accounting for these anti-tumor effects are reduced levels of PGE(2) and inducible NO synthase as well as an increased lipid peroxidation, or translation inhibition with subsequent cell cycle arrest. Further, omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid is capable of down-regulating the production and effect of a number of mediators of cachexia, such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and proteolysis-inducing factor. In patients with advanced cancer, it is possible to increase energy and protein intake via an enteral or parenteral route, but this seems to have little impact on progressive weight loss. Fish oil administration improved patients' conditions in cancer cachexia and during radio- and chemotherapy. In patients undergoing tumor resection surgery we observed improvement of liver and pancreas biochemical indices when omega-3 fatty acids were administered. This paper is a review of recent developments in the field of nutrition in cancer patients with emphasis on the acute phase response following cancer surgery and the beneficial aspects of fish oil administration.

PMID: 16796997 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[R.B.]

Thanks Lani

Is full trial result available for free?.

I have seen omega three benifits reported for heart surgery and bowel surgery as well. I posted the bowel item on the site.

RB

[R.B.]

Re weight and fat intake ratio

RB




http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_DocSum

1: Br J Cancer. 2002 Dec 2;87(12):1370-8. Related Articles, Links
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Plasma and neutrophil fatty acid composition in advanced cancer patients and response to fish oil supplementation.

Pratt VC, Watanabe S, Bruera E, Mackey J, Clandinin MT, Baracos VE, Field CJ.

Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, 410 Ag/Forestry Center, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5 Canada.

Metabolic demand and altered supply of essential nutrients is poorly characterised in patients with advanced cancer. A possible imbalance or deficiency of essential fatty acids is suggested by reported beneficial effects of fish oil supplementation. To assess fatty acid status (composition of plasma and neutrophil phospholipids) in advanced cancer patients before and after 14 days of supplementation (12+/-1 g day(-1)) with fish (eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo (olive) oil. Blood was drawn from cancer patients experiencing weight loss of >5% body weight (n=23). Fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and the major phospholipid classes of isolated neutrophils were determined using gas liquid chromatography. At baseline, patients with advanced cancer exhibited low levels (<30% of normal values) of plasma phospholipids and constituent fatty acids and elevated 20 : 4 n-6 content in neutrophil phospholipids. High n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios in neutrophil and plasma phospholipids were inversely related to body mass index. Fish oil supplementation raised eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid content in plasma but not neutrophil phospholipids. 20 : 4 n-6 content was reduced in neutrophil PI following supplementation with fish oil. Change in body weight during the supplementation period related directly to increases in eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma. Advanced cancer patients have alterations in lipid metabolism potentially due to nutritional status and/or chemotherapy. Potential obstacles in fatty acid utilisation must be addressed in future trials aiming to improve outcomes using nutritional intervention with fish oils. Copyright 2002 Cancer Research UK